GASTROPODS OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN THE COASTAL WATERS OF AMBON ISLAND, INDONESIADance N. Kho, Hasan Tuaputty, Dominggus Rumahlatu and Fredy LeiwakabessyAbstract This research aims at examining the physical-chemical conditions of the environment, substrate conditions, and taxa composition of gastropods in the mangrove forest area on the island of Ambon. The research was conducted for 3 months, starting from May until July 2016. This research was carried out in the mangrove area on several beaches of Ambon Island including Tawiri village, Passo village and Suli village. The results of this research showed that the temperature on the Tawiri beach ranged from 29-30 oC, the temperature on the Passo beach ranged from 27-28 oC, while the temperature on Suli beach ranged from 26-28 oC. The salinity of water on the Tawiri beach ranged from 24-30 0/00, The salinity in the Passo beach ranged between 26-29 0/00, while the salinity on the Suli beach ranged between 18-29 0/00. The pH of the seawater on the Tawiri beach ranged from 6-6.8, the pH of the seawater in the Passo beach ranged from 6.4-67, while the pH of the seawater on the Suli beach ranged from 6-6.5. Dissolved oxygen (DO) on the Tawiri beach ranged from 0.9-8 ppm, the dissolved Oxygen on the Passo beach ranged from 5-16.1 ppm, while Dissolved Oxygen on the Suli beach ranged from 4-10 ppm. Generally, the substrate composition in the three research locations was clay, dusty clay and sandy clay. Mangrove forest in Suli village has a higher number of species, which is as many as 23 species, and then followed by 20 species in the Tawiri village, and 12 species in the Passo village. There is a significant correlation between temperature factor and gastropod diversity in several mangrove forests on Ambon island. |